This inquiry focuses on the question of whether Antebellum technology made life better overall for people and how certain inventions impacted groups of people differently. Four innovations—the cotton gin, mechanical reaper, steamboat, and steam locomotive—were particularly impactful in the 19th century. These inventions came about quickly as part of the First Industrial Revolution, which was marked by the movement from hand production to machine work. Many scholars view James Hargreaves’ 1760s invention of yarn-spinning machine, the spinning jenny, as the start of the Industrial Revolution. From that point forward, new technologies came along quickly. Beginning in in the 1790s, four inventions, the cotton gin, the mechanical reaper, the steamboat, and the steam locomotive, provided the impetus for rapid economic development for some, while at the same time increasing inequality and suffering for many.
6-8
The Heart of Social Studies
Inquiries
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This inquiry focuses on the question of whether Antebellum technology made life better overall for people and how certain inventions impacted groups of people differently. Four innovations—the cotton gin, mechanical reaper, steamboat, and steam locomotive—were particularly impactful in the 19th century. These inventions came about quickly as part of the First Industrial Revolution, which was…
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This inquiry focuses on the causes of the American Revolution in light of feelings of injustice among social classes. Students typically learn about the experiences of people during the American Revolution in simple categories such as loyalist and patriots. In reality, there were varied experiences that reflect social class, gender, race, and ethnicity. In this…
This inquiry leads students through an investigation of the construct of a “hero” and the actions of those who, starting on 9/12, were engaged in the rescue, recovery, and cleanup operations for the next nine months. Those attacks and the aftermath have now passed from current event to history. By focusing on a relatively recent…
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This inquiry leads students through an investigation of how we respond to the needs of refugee communities. With the example of King Najashi (in the 7th century Kingdom of Aksum, modern Eritrea), students an historical instance of a national leader extending compassion to a refugee community. Students examine contemporary examples of national leaders who do…
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This inquiry focuses on examining two pieces of Holocaust survivor art to explore how art can express the pain of the Holocaust. The questions, tasks, and sources in this inquiry asks students to examine two sculptures created by a Holocaust survivor using Visual Thinking Strategies then use their observations to drive discussion and analysis during…
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This inquiry focuses on examining a painting from a Holocaust survivor, a quote from a survivor, and an excerpt from an interview from a liberator to explore how art can express the pain of the Holocaust and how using a combination of first-hand sources can provide a better understanding of specific events of the Holocaust….
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This inquiry focuses on examining two pieces of Holocaust survivor art to explore how art can express the pain of the Holocaust. The questions, tasks, and sources in this inquiry asks student to examine two pieces of art, a painting and a sculpture, using Visual Thinking Strategies then use their observations and analysis of the…
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This inquiry focuses on examining two pieces of Holocaust survivor art to explore how art can express the pain of the Holocaust. The questions, tasks, and sources in this inquiry asks students to examine one painting and one drawing created by a Holocaust survivor using Visual Thinking Strategies then use their observations to drive discussion…
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This inquiry focuses on examining a painting from a Holocaust survivor and the artist statement to explore how art provides a partial understanding of the life circumstances of the artist but does not provide a complete understanding. The questions, tasks, and sources in this inquiry asks student to examine one piece of art using Visual…
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In this inquiry, students investigate police and policing reform in historical and modern contexts. Framed by the compelling questionㄧHow should we reform policing?ㄧstudents explore the form and function of policing in order to evaluate reforms and create their own reform policy proposal. First, students examine the purpose of policing, considering the role police play in…